Alabama's offense absent, but Christion Jones shows up

Aug. 31, 2013
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Alabama wide receiver Christion Jones (22) celebrates his punt return for a touchdown against Virginia Tech in the first quarter of the 2013 Chick-Fil-A Kickoff game at the Georgia Dome. / Daniel Shirey, USA TODAY Sports

by Dan Wolken, USA TODAY Sports

by Dan Wolken, USA TODAY Sports

ATLANTA â?? Maybe this season isn't going to be a cakewalk for Alabama after all.

The two-time defending national champions easily disposed of Virginia Tech, 35-10, in Saturday's Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game, but did not escape without showing some fairly significant flaws.

Two special teams touchdowns by Alabama's Christion Jones â?? one on a punt return, the other on a kickoff â?? helped mask an ineffective offensive performance by the No. 1-ranked Crimson Tide, which has next week off before the mammoth Sept. 14 matchup at Texas A&M.

"We have to create an identity as a team," Saban said. "I don't think we did that in all phases of the game today. But at least we know where we are. We know what we need to do to improve. I think our players also have to learn that you have to be a little more relentless as a competitor. You can't be satisfied with where you are."

Despite the runaway score, Alabama finished with just 206 yards of offense and did little to satisfy the biggest offseason question around the program: How would the rebuilt offensive line look?

After losing three elite players up front â?? Chance Warmack, Barrett Jones and D.J. Fluker were all NFL draft picks â?? there was little doubt the Crimson Tide would need some time to figure things out. And though it's too early to write off the new-look offensive line, it did not have a good day against Virginia Tech's aggressive, veteran defense.

Alabama rushed for only 96 yards, and senior quarterback A.J. McCarron found himself without much time to make throws he has routinely been able to pull off over the years, finishing 10-of-23 for 110 yards with one touchdown and one interception.

The Tide spent much of preseason camp shuffling its linemen around, trying to find the best combination up front. But it was clear the chemistry and experience is not nearly what Alabama has grown accustomed to, and it wasn't a good sign that the Tide's most talented player up front â?? left tackle Cyrus Kouandijo â?? struggled badly for much of the game.

"I think we did alright, but we obviously wanted to go out there and just beat 'em straightforward up front," right guard Anthony Steen said. "It felt like the whole game they were moving constantly sideways and it took us awhile to adjust to it. We're more downhill guys and I like to just go straight at you and try to muscle you but they were going sideways a lot and it affected our angles a little bit."

McCarron, who had a procedure Thursday to remove an ingrown toenail, said there was nothing wrong with the way the offensive line played and denied that the foot problem had any impact on his performance.

"I've got three new guys and I thought everybody up front played excellent," McCarron said. "You have to have some experience to learn from, and it was an unbelievable job from my guys. I'm proud as hell. couldn't be any prouder.

"It's not always going to be great. It never has been. It's the game of football, so keep staying positive, keep progressing and we'll be fine."

Despite the lack of offensive pop, Virginia Tech never seriously threatened thanks to the massive difference in special teams and the dominance of Alabama's defense. The Tide led 7-0 before ever running an offensive play thanks to Jones' 72-yard punt return, then scored off good field position late in the quarter to make it 14-0.

But Alabama's offense pretty much stalled after that, and the Tide needed Vinnie Sunseri's 38-yard interception return for a touchdown to extend the lead to 21-7. After Virginia Tech's field goal with 3:39 left in the first half to make it 21-10, Jones took the ensuing kickoff 94 yards to become the first Alabama player since 1944 to score two non-offensive touchdowns in one game. He also became the first FBS player since 2006 to score return a punt and kickoff for a TD in the same game.

"I don't even think the guys that had a lot of experience played as well as they need to play on the offensive line," Saban said. "I think we're talking about the entire group realizing they need to play a little bit better, play a little bit better together, be a little more physical. We have too good of skilled players not to give them more opportunities to make plays in the game."

The tone of dissatisfaction from Alabama speaks to the incredibly high standards Saban's program has established, winning three of the last four national titles. To put it in perspective: Alabama beat a well-coached, major conference team that will likely be in a bowl game by 25 points Saturday â?? and left disappointed in its performance.

"Everybody expects us to go out every game and win by 50, I feel like anyway, but it's the first game of the season," Steen said. "I'm glad we have this bye week here and we can just go ahead and focus on two weeks of A&M and try to get better."

The Hokies, who suffered a number of injuries to key players in the preseason, ran the ball decently but got little out of Thomas, who finished 5-of-26 for just 59 yards and one interception. That kind of pressure by Alabama may not be quite as effective against Johnny Manziel and Texas A&M, but if nothing else the Tide knows it can rely on its defense to carry it early in the season as the offense tries to gel.

"The offense did great, they did all they needed to do," Sunseri said. "We need to improve. we gave up a big run, and we pride ourselves on stopping those and never giving up big plays. We have a lot to improve on and we have to learn how to stop that so we have to keep growing, keep maturing."

Dan Wolken, a national college football reporter for USA TODAY Sports, is on Twitter @DanWolken.